updated 06:36 pm EDT, Sat March 30, 2013

Contact blocking, performance updates included in new update

Windows 8 users running Skype will now have the option to exert greater control over who can contact them, thanks to a new software update. Version 1.6 of Skype, tipped by the company in a blog post on Friday, brings the ability to block contacts. The update also includes a number of performance enhancements for the audio and video chatting software.

Users can now swipe at the top or bottom of their screens to bring up a command bar relating to a particular contact's name. They can then select "block" in order to cease receiving contacts from that user. Users also have the option to label a contact request as spam or to remove a contact entirely.

In addition to contact blocking, version 1.6 fixes an issue that saw outgoing video sometimes not displayed after switching the camera. Another issue, in which Skype would display the wrong call error message when a call failed, has also been fixed.